Taylor Lorenz’s Power User

Kat Tenbarge, journalist who covers tech policy and online culture, explains why headlines got the social media addiction trial wrong. They unpack misleading investigations, identity-check pushers, and how policy fixes can empower big tech and conservative groups. Short, sharp takes on surveillance, censorship risks, and who really benefits from these verdicts.

A deep dive into how a niche self-published romance exploded into a massive online fandom. They trace fandom roots from Tumblr hockey shipping to mainstream virality on TikTok and Threads. The conversation covers slash fanfiction history, platform-driven norm clashes, and tensions between journalism and fan privacy. It explores how fan culture reshapes publishing and what comes next for fan-run spaces.

A deep dive into the accelerating erasure of digital history and archives. Stories about mass removals of human rights videos, algorithmic demotion that hides dissent, and platforms acting as arms of government. Coverage of app takedowns, attacks on archival infrastructure, and how ownership and profit motives shape what stays online. Calls for decentralized tools and policy fixes to preserve public records.

Will Sommer, reporter and author covering political extremism and conspiracy movements. He unpacks the Jim Carrey clone frenzy, traces replacement rumors from Paul McCartney to modern TikTok sleuths, and explores how aging, nostalgia, AI tools, and crowd investigations fuel celebrity clone conspiracies. Short, sharp takes on why certain figures get targeted and the cultural forces behind these viral theories.

Mike Masnick, founder of Techdirt and host of Otherwise Objectionable, is a Section 230 and tech policy expert. He traces how a minor law became a political battleground. He debunks myths about moderation, explains why repealing 230 would empower big platforms, and outlines legislative and user-driven alternatives to curb Big Tech power.

Joe, founder and designer of Cola Corporation, runs a provocative political clothing label that challenges police, ICE, and establishment power. He discusses government seizure of shipments, platform and advertising bans, printer refusals, and viral backlash. The conversation focuses on fashion as resistance, censorship double standards, and the practical costs of making political merch.

Olay Olurinatti, a pop culture commentator who analyzes fandom and online manipulation, joins to unpack the Politico bot report about Nicki Minaj. They trace Nicki’s political history and recent pivot. They debate whether amplification came from coordinated bots, intense fandom, or platform incentives. They explore how algorithmic tactics, platform changes, and controversy drive cultural and political influence.

Eric Goldman, Associate Dean for Research and law professor specializing in internet law and Section 230 policy. He unpacks what algorithms really are and why even simple chronological feeds are algorithms. They discuss how algorithm rules shape moderation, competition, and who controls online speech. Politics, age-verification dangers, and ways to preserve a diverse, competitive web also come up.

Ross Anderson, Staff writer at The Atlantic who investigates AI, national security, and surveillance. He unpacks the Pentagon’s showdown with AI firms over autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. Short, sharp stories about a $200M contract fight, Anthropic pushing back on lethal uses, OpenAI stepping in, and why commercial data access sparked a national controversy.

Ryan Broderick, investigative writer behind Garbage Day and Panic World, unpacks Jeffrey Epstein's strange ties to early internet culture. He traces Epstein's SEO and Wikipedia manipulations, links to 4chan and gaming economies, crypto experiments with elites, and efforts to influence Silicon Valley and political movements. Short, provocative conversations about power, secrecy, and online networks.